Operation Christmas happening on December 16

Contributed

Friday

Dec 1, 2017 at 12:01 AM

The Hempstead County Sheriff's OPERATION CHRISTMAS program is getting ready for “Shop with A Deputy” thanks to several local sponsors and donations.

The Hempstead County Sheriff’s OPERATION CHRISTMAS program is getting ready for “Shop with A Deputy” thanks to several local sponsors and donations.The “Shop with a Deputy” event will benefit approximately 60 Hempstead County Kids whose names were submitted by churches and others from all over Hempstead County. The kids and their parents have been notified to meet at Walmart on Saturday, December 16 at 9:00 a.m., according to a Tuesday statement from Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton.Deputies and other law enforcement officers such as Special Agent Darin Archer will meet at the Hempstead County Law Enforcement Center at 8:00 am to form a motorcade with a very special passenger. The Big Guy himself, Santa, has agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to help the Sheriff and his Deputies, Singleton said.A convoy of law enforcement and other emergency vehicles will leave the Law Enforcement Center at 8:30 a.m. and escort Santa to Walmart where he will meet and greet the kids and parents in the Garden Center. Walmart employees and volunteers will have Hot Chocolate and cookies for the kids, Singleton said. Reverend Jesse Henry will deliver a short devotional on what Christmas really means, after that the kids will be paired up with deputies, officers and other first responders to go shopping. Each child will be allowed to spend $125.00 each on presents. After each child’s shopping spree, they will return to the garden center where they will have pictures with Santa and the officer. Volunteers will also be available to wrap each child’s purchase. Any funds left over will go to buy tricycles, small bicycles, and helmets for children at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our first Operation Christmas and those citizens and business who took ad’s out in our 2018 Day Planner. If those citizens and business had not stepped up and purchased the ad’s we could not serve so many kids this year. I would also like to thank those who contributed and wanted to remain anonymous,” Singleton said.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.